INTERVIEW with Ramón Vargas – the Gala Concert for the Year of Czech Music 2014

Whenever a year ends with the number four, it is a big feast for Czech music. It is referred to as the Year of Czech Music, this time with the number 2014, over which mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and conductor Sir Simon Rattle have taken over the auspices. The year of Czech music has a natural and long tradition. Natural because the anniversaries of more than sixty important Czech composers and musicians fall into years ending with the number four (Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček, Suk and many others). And long because the beginnings of the years fall into the year 1924, when the first big celebrations of Bedřich Smetana’s anniversary took place and in which the Czech general public took part in a way unsurpassed until today.

The celebrations of the Year of Czech Music 2014 will culminate at the end of this year, on 17th December, with the closing gala concert, during which you will perform exclusively with a Czech repertoire. Is there any perception of Czech music in your country, Mexico? What is the awareness of Czech music in your country?

THE CZECH MUSIC IS VERY IMPORTANT IN ALL THE MUSIC WORLD. THE CZECH COMPOSER CREATED A SCHOOL OF COMPOSITION WITH A VERY CLEAR AND UNIQUE STYLE. ALSO IN MEXICO WE APPRECIATE THAT MUSIC VERY MUCH. 

Do you remember the first time you came into contact with Czech music? Of a professional nature, or if there was such a contact, also of an unprofessional nature?

THAT WAS AS STUDENT IN THE MUSIC ACADEMY. WE STUDIED THE REQUIEM OF DVORAK. THE MUSIC WAS OUTSTANDING AND MOVING, AFTER THAT HE WAS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES COMPOSERS. 

Is Czech music literature, in your opinion, so strong that it could be compared to Italian, German, French or Russian?

ABSOLUTELY, ALL THIS TYPES OF MUSIC HAVE CHARACTERISTICS THAT MADE THEM SPECIAL AND EASY TO RECOGNISE. EXACTLY AS THE MUSIC OF THE CZECH COMPOSERS. THEY CREATE A SPECIAL WAY TO WRITE TE MUSIC THAT MAKE THEM UNIQUE AND EASY TO REALISE WHERE THE MUSIC IS COMING FROM. 

Czech music culture has many new names among its interpreters and conductors. Have you met any of them in your professional life?

YES, I SANG WE SOME OF YOURS SINGERS, UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN’T WORK WITH YOUR WONDERFUL CONDUCTORS, BUT OF COURSE I HOPE I CAN IN THE FUTURE COLLABORATE TOGETHER. IS NOT A SURPRISE, BECAUSE THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAS A NOTABLE MUSIC TRADITION. 

If you should mention some moments in your life which you consider crucial, whether it was a meeting with somebody or a performance (your own, or experienced as a listener), which would they be?

THE LIFE IS MADE OF ENCOUNTERS. I THINK THAT EACH MOMENT CAN BE IMPORTANT TO YOU, TO LEARN OR TO FIND SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR VISION OF THE THINGS OF OR THE LIFE. I THINK I HAVE HAD MANY OF THIS MOMENTS. 
What from Czech music literature (opera, songs) can be found in your repertoire? Would you be interested in studying something else from Czech repertoire?

WOUD BE NICE TO SING ALL OF THE OPERA RUSALKA. BUT OF COURS ALSO THE MORAVIAN SONGS OF JANACEK. 

What are your professional goals? What role are you currently studying?

WE THE INTERPRETERS ARE ALWAYS STUDYING, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE DID AN OPERA OR SONG MANY TIMES WE SHOULD REVIEW AND WORK. ACTUALLY STUDY “I MASNADIERI” OF VERDI AS A NEW ROL. 
 

What music do you relax with?

I LIKE THE ROMANTIC MUSIC, THE BALLADS AND THE MUSIC OF TRIO OF MEXICO, AND THE JAZZ. 
 

What can the audience of the gala concert look forward to in your performance?

I THINK WHAT THEY EXPECT IS HOW A MEXICAN INTERPRETER FEELS THEIR BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.



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